First Day - a New Version

The first day of school rolled around last week.  This year looks a bit different.  After much discernment, prayer, and research, we decided to try homeschooling.  So away we go.  I still had to capture some pictures.  Luke was still sleeping, so he missed out.  Here's the rest of the gang:

 

 

May the fun begin!

Poolside fun

 

We've had a cooler summer. Hope we can fit in a few more days at the pool!

Time saver

Oh the time I would gain if a certain two year old didn't constantly take off all her clothes!  I have to dress that girl too many times a day. She made a few people chuckle at Costco today when she said she had to go potty and so she just pulled down her pants.  God help me.

Finally getting some hair = barrette!!

Things We Say

we have sure been in the basketball spirit lately. It has made the girls act more like cheerleaders. Leah has been saying that she wants to be a cheerleader in college and asks if that's ok. I've said, "We'll, I don't know. Let's just wait and see. (Aka highly doubtful, but I won't crush your thoughts today)" then the next part has a preface...the boys have asked what I would give them if they make it in the NBA. They have asked if I would give them $100. Well, I figure that's a pretty good deal. I've even said I'd give the, $500. They obviously haven't thought about that the last thing they'd need if they ever get to the NBA is $500 from dear old mom. But, it makes for a fun conversation. So then back to Leah. She asks abut being an NBA cheerleader. "Mom. If I be an NBA cheerleader, will you give me $100?" I reply, "Sure." I then have another child running off blissfully at the idea of a little cash that will never materialize under the current agreements.

After all of this talk, Anne calls out, "Mom, when I grow up, can I be a Princess?" ... And this is with a little grin and big eyes and much expression.

The other interesting comment comes from Catherine and Jacob. She's really been chatting up a storm. I'm sure she has her mind running and we are all left to wonder what the babbling means. It seems very intentional. I recently heard her say what I thought was, "hi." Jacob, however, disagreed. Thanks to his reading and English teachers (I should tell them, too), Jacob said, "No, Mom. She said 'oi', you know, the vowel diphthong." Oh, pardon me, how could I have misunderstood. What a funny guy (although her was quite serious).

Happy 1st Birthday, Catherine!

A year seems to go by more and more quickly.  And with my lack of time to note things on here, I fear I'll forget some of the cute things we've had happen or all the little cute things Catherine is saying these days.  She is really saying a lot these days.  She'll say, "-Eah" for Leah, "Hanks" for thanks, and when she wants something & I've said no, she'll say, "peez?"  It is so much fun when you don't expect her to respond and then she does with a fitting comment.  Her highest frequency word is probably, "NO!"  I can't say how it really sounds, but it actually has quite a bit of inflection and sounds enforcing.  She most often says it when others are really showing their "love" to her in ways that she maybe doesn't prefer.  But, she's a great baby.  She sure looks a lot like Leah did.  Hard to believe that she's heading toward 16 months already.  She's a good sleeper, loves to mosey around the house and see what everyone is doing, likes to look at books, and loves sitting in the little rocking chairs we have around.  She is another blessing - we feel overwhelmingly blessed in this house.  How did we get so lucky?   

Hmm, birthdays..

So now that I've finally noticed I have all the birthdays up & thought - there we go, 1, 3, 5, 7, & 2 x 9.  But then I realized - I haven't posted the "1".  Sorry, Catherine.  I'll get that up soon.

Catherine and her Cake

Happy 1st Birthday, Catherine!

My baby girl is sleeping,
But her cake is done.
How can it be
That today she's one?!

Love you sweet baby girl!!

-------

Part II

So what a lovely day. I enjoyed looking back over the past year and feeling so much joy about what Catherine has brought to our family and what a gift she is. I was thinking about that early trip to the hospital that morning when she was born. I remember saying, "it's another girl" before anyone else announced it. Of course as we always say, we couldn't imagine life without her.

Catherine, you have a great squinty smile like big brother Nathaniel had (and Aunt Lissy, Aunt Beth, and Grandma Donna all are sure you look like him). You love dancing to music, you crawl super fast and are really close to walking. You are definitely laid back and go with the flow...as I always tell people...that's why God sent you as #6 because you pretty much have to go with the flow with everyone else's stuff to go to and from. Your whole family loves you dearly, but I think you and Leyton have a special little closeness that I love to watch and hope it always stays. I enjoy spending my time with you, cute little peanut and love you more each day!

We did have a good day, busy of course, but good. We had bible study/Catechesis this morning, and then Anne actually had a well child visit - fun, I know. Then we came home for Catherine to nap a bit while I decorated the cake. Then it was lasagne, grapes, yogurt, salad and breadsticks for dinner. She really ate a lot! Then cake of course. She really went to town on the cake! First small slow bites, then bigger, then faster. It was cute. I think she really enjoyed it. The Lees came over for dinner and we always appreciate them visiting with us. I think the. She was pretty tuckered out. She got a nice bath and played with her new bath toys - thanks Grandma Donna and Grandpa Jerry and the Grahams! Then out like a light with a full belly.

Just a wonderful day to celebrate this little cutie. I'll have to get some pictures in tomorrow or this weekend.

Catherine

Well, I've not posted a picture of Catherine in a while. Not because I haven't taken them and not because I don't think I should post them, but just haven't had the real opportunity. This one is just a quick one from the phone from yesterday...nice and easy to post quickly. She is just growing and changing...sure wish she'd slow down! She is such a sweet baby. Hard to believe in a week or so she'll be 5 months! I'm expecting a first tooth any day with the way she's gumming everything - especially fingers & the pacifier. The pacifier is about to be gone because of that...she just doesn't suck on it anyway. I better go...she's calling me...

Catherine sneak peak - 3 months!

I simply cannot believe my baby girl is 3 months old already! The time flies for sure. She'll roll from her belly to her back now. She has almost rolled from back to belly if it weren't for that crazy elbow in the way - she can't quite get over it. More pics to come, but just wanted to post one.

Pictures of Catherine

Catherine at 6 weeks (1/10/12)

These pictures below were actually from a week or so ago - taken on 1/24, so she was 8 weeks old. I can't believe she's two months now! It really does just go too quickly!

Once again, feeling overdue with any updating. She's such a sweet baby I can't believe how much we love her. She's beginning to have a bit better routine, which is nice. She is also smiling so much more often. All the kids just light up when they talk to her & she smiles back. I'm sure I light up, too. I can't get enough of that cute little grin.

Baptism Pictures

Catherine's Special Day: Baptism 1/8/12

What a wonderful day we had today celebrating Catherine's Baptism. What a faith-filled and fun day for all of us. Fr. Michael Hermes baptized her today and I felt so filled with joy at this occasion. I'll admit I (and Patrick) was a bit tired from the preparations, but it is always so worth it. We are very grateful to be surrounded by many family members to witness this. Patrick and I both very much enjoy Fr. Hermes homilies each and every week. Today I had the extra appreciation of his words at the baptism. With today being the Feast of the Epiphany, he told us how it was such a wonderful day for a baptism. As we recall the story of the Magi aka 3 kings, aka wise men, we can think of how they traveled far and wide to meet Jesus. He spoke of the process of being presented to Jesus and introduced. In this process, we introduce using the name. And as in baptism, we as parents assist with that introduction when we're asked, "What name have you given this child?" And then we proceed through the Rite of Baptism, and in this case, with our little Catherine. Now that she has been introduced, then the process of the relationship can ensue.

Catherine was quite a trooper through the whole process. Each of her brothers took turns holding her throughout Mass as she slept peacefully. Then during the baptism, she did wake up, but didn't make a peep. Even when the water was poured, she just opened her eyes really wide, but never cried. Leah asked why she didn't even cry and I said maybe she knew there wasn't a reason to cry and maybe she was just happy.

After Baptism, we had lunch at home. All the kids had fun playing and the adults seemed to enjoy the visiting as well. The guests included: Grandma Donna & Grandpa Jerry were there (and now back to their house for 2 weeks until the next family Baptism for Blaise), Grandma Sally & Grandpa Dan, Aunt Patty, Uncle Greg, Aunt Stacy, Aunt Barbara & Natalie, Uncle Scott & Katie, Megan, Taylor, Adam, & Hayden, Uncle Robert & Aunt Beth & Mya & Blaise, and family friends and godparents Jason & Kristin Knight with their children Cecelia, Maddox, Audrey, Mary, Veronica, Benedict, Peter, and Lucy. Thanks to all of them for joining us and thanks grandmas & grandpas for the help with preparations. Thanks also to those that were with us in spirit and/or said prayers for us today.

I enjoyed the rest of the day, too, especially when holding her. I could just smell the fragrance of the oil of chrism on her little head and it brought such positive and hopeful thoughts to mind. I'm grateful for the gift of this precious baby Catherine (and all of my children) and look forward to these steps along our family's faith journey.

Pictures to follow.

A few pictures of Catherine...

1 month - ALREADY?! on 12/29 so hard to believe! Please don't let any more time fly by like this. Starting to grin here and there and 0-3 month clothes seem to fit for the most part.

Sleeping soundly at 4 weeks - (don't get me wrong - this is mid-afternoon on 12/27/11; not all night or anything...but still cute to me)

3 weeks, awake a bit more on 12/20/11

Catherine quick pic - 2 weeks old

Catherine's 10 day check up

Just a brief note on the visit to the doctor today. So at 10 days old, Catherine was 7lb 15oz and 19 inches (so a 1/2 inch shorter than birth - for whatever that's worth). She is doing well; has overcome her jaundice on her own, which is very nice. I sure hope she doesn't grow too quickly! It's fun to enjoy all the stages, but I know they aren't this little for long!

A few more pictures...

Pictures of Catherine - November 29, 2011

Catherine Rachel Robinson

So, the answer to my last post question...Tuesday, November 29, 2011. At 6:02am, we welcomed our family's newest member. What a delight. Catherine was born in a hurry and was a healthy 7lb 11oz, 19.5 inches long. She has been said to look like each of her siblings, so I guess that means she's related and definitely one of the bunch, yet truly her own self with her own look. She's healthy and happy, just getting a few extra pokes in the heel to make sure her bilirubin doesn't go too high. All six of the kids have had some level of jaundice. Why should she miss that?

The kids all adore her and so do Patrick and I. Leyton & Nathaniel have both said already they can't imagine what it was like anymore before she was born. Last week I was really feeling overwhelmed in a good way about just how blessed I feel. Thank you, God. I really don't know how or why we have been so blessed with these six wonderful healthy children, but I tell you, it really is just amazing. It's also just so interesting how we started with the three boys and then evened it out with three girls. I sure wouldn't change a thing with any of them.

The labor was pretty quick. I worked Monday night and got home at my usual, around 11pm. I went to bed at around midnight and then woke again around 4am feeling a little odd. Patrick woke up & asked if I was ok. I said, "I'm not sure." His reply, "OK, let's go." He cracks me up. But, we did call Uncle Robert & Aunt Beth to ask for some coverage at the house. We left the house sometime around 5am or so and got to the labor & delivery floor at the hospital around 5:30am. At that point with my first check, I was 5 1/2 cm dilated. The pace and the pain picked up, though, and it wasn't long before we were really just hoping a doctor would walk into the room. I found out later that the doctor was literally running down the hall to get to my room. I'm glad she made it! I know she wasn't in the room even 1 minute before we met our little Catherine. Patrick stayed for about 10-15 minutes after and then we figured, well, he better get on with the day - get home to get the kids ready for school. So I called home to tell the kids about their new sister & Patrick was home soon after to help them with their day.

I have to say my recovery has been going very well. I felt good and didn't have much pain after, just some cramping primarily with nursing, but as to be expected. We do have Grandma Donna here helping with the chores, which is very nice. And, we have had many generous offers for dinners so we haven't had to cook much. All very nice!

We are so thankful for this wonderful blessing and look forward to this new change in our lives. It's amazing how things just fall into place.